Constitutional provision not excuse to sideline minorities, MCA says

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — MCA has again slammed Malay-Muslim coalition Ummah today, explaining that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution regarding Bumiputera quota is not a blanket provision.

After a call by a former educator to ban non-Malays from receiving scholarships, the Barisan Nasional component’s Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the provision should not be used to deprive minorities from being given financial aid and government assistance.

“To deprive or punish the poor of any governmental aid by falling onto Article 153 of the Federal Constitution is wrong and erroneous,” Ti said in his statement.

“This is an Article that provides for specific aid to the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak on education scholarship or reservation of positions in public services, etc but it is to be determined by the Malay Rulers on proportion and needs basis.

“It is not an absolute provision and the assistance rendered are qualified. This Article should not be narrowly interpreted or calculated to deprive minority right to be granted scholarships or other governmental assistance given based on merits or needs,” he added.

In a Malay-Muslim lobby convention on Saturday, former educator Datuk Raof Husin had demanded that scholarships be only restricted to the Bumiputera, claiming Malays were losing out to their minority counterparts in the race for professional jobs as a result of not getting all the federal scholarships.

Ti today lambasted Raof, alleging that the latter is “obviously ignorant of the law” and calling him a “danger and a threat” to national unity, progress and harmony.

The party's Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman also explained that Raof's statement that there is still a lack of Bumiputera professionals in critical professions is not true.

“That was back in the 1960s and 1970s when the New Economic Policy was introduced to remedy, restructure and redistribute wealth in the society. Raof’s statement seems to show that he is still living in the past.

“We are now in Year 2018 and generally Malays have made tremendous progress ever since. In fact, many Malays today are confidently asking for a more equal and level playing field in order for them to demonstrate their ability to compete with others,” Ti said.